Choosing the best chelated magnesium will depend in part on how much magnesium you need to take and where you wish to make the purchase. Formulation and distribution of a dietary supplement or mineral supplement is not regulated the way prescription medications are, so product safety and quality can be a concern. Whenever you purchase vitamins or supplements such as magnesium, you should be sure to buy from a reputable company that sells high-quality products and check with your doctor for any potential adverse effects on your health.

Magnesium is an essential mineral the body needs to function properly. All organs of the body need magnesium, especially the heart, kidneys, muscles and nerves. A magnesium deficiency is hard to diagnose in a laboratory test, but some common symptoms include muscle tension, constipation and twitching, just to name a few. A magnesium overdose may induce diarrhea, depression or, in severe cases, a comatose state or death.

Chelated magnesium also is known as amino acid chelate; it is naturally occurring magnesium that has been chelated for easy absorption. A pure mineral supplement with no added sugar, preservatives or artificial flavors is recommended for both nutritional and medicinal benefits. A chelated magnesium supplement can be administered orally by capsule. Other forms of magnesium are available as a liquid or injection.

Ad

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for elemental magnesium is from 350 to 400 milligrams (mg). Many people do not consume enough magnesium from food sources, so a supplement is needed to achieve the RDA. Muscle soreness, back and neck aches, and even menstrual cramping can resolve if you consume a sufficient amount of magnesium. Therapeutic doses used to treat heart and kidney problems may reach a total of 1,000 mg of elemental magnesium per day, which is still considered safe. You should carefully inspect labels to determine the amount of elemental magnesium present within the chelated magnesium complex you are considering.

Manufacturers of supplements such as chelated magnesium are generally less regulated than manufacturers of pharmaceutical-grade products and drugs. This means the quality and safety parameters during formulation, production and distribution are less rigorous than for prescription drugs. You should be sure the company from which you purchase has a time-honored reputation for providing high-quality vitamins, dietary and mineral supplements, and nutritional products for consumers.

You can order chelated magnesium online or locally where other mineral and dietary supplements are sold. If you are unsure about the elemental concentration, then ask someone to clarify whether the mineral amounts shown on the label are elemental or chelated. Be sure you are speaking with someone who is educated and trained to answer all of your questions about choosing and taking chelated magnesium. Before taking any supplements, you should always talk to your doctor about your medical conditions, allergies and potential drug interactions. Consuming the recommended daily allowance of magnesium could affect the workings of other medications you may be taking, and your doctor may need to adjust the dosage of those medicines as your body adjusts to the increased magnesium.

Discuss this Article

SteamLouisPost 3

@donasmrs-- Thanks for mentioning that. I don't know which type of magnesium my supplement contains either. I thought that it was the same kind found in all of them.

The one thing I want to warn people about is overdosing. I did this once. Since magnesium is a mineral, I didn't think it was possible to overdose. So I took an extra dose and became ill with nausea, vomiting and headache about an hour later. These are all symptoms of overdose. I stopped taking the magnesium supplement for a few days and didn't experience it again.

So it's possible to overdose on magnesium, don't take more than the recommended dose guys.

donasmrsPost 2

The most important thing about a magnesium supplement is which type of magnesium it contains. But strangely, very few people look at this at all when shopping for a supplement. There are different kinds of magnesium out there with different absorption levels. The magnesium that most supplements contain is magnesium oxide because it's cheap. But it has very low absorption levels. Only less than half of the supplement can be absorbed by the body.

The best chelated magnesium out there is magnesium glycinate. It is absorbed much better than other types and is therefore more effective.

stoneMasonPost 1

There are several great supplement brands out there that I rely on. So as long as the brand is good and it says "chelated," I know it's going to work well. The only factor I consider is the size of the pills. I have some swallowing problems and it can be very difficult to swallow large supplements. Some are like horse pills. That's where customer reviews come in. If customers have made comments of the size of the pills, I look elsewhere.

Post your comments

Please enter the code:

Login

Register

Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.

Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes

Thank You!

One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!